Method of packaging thermal candles



Mum W 1970 RUBEN ET AL 3,487,918

METHOD OF PACKAGING THERMAL cANnLEs Filed Jan. 18, 1968 3 lsi United States Patent METHOD OF PACKAGING THERMAL CANDLES Harry Roden and James T. Yardley, Jr., Port Neches,

Tex., assignors to Texaco Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 701,038 Int. Cl. B65d 71/00 U.S. Cl. 206--65 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of forming a package of thermal candles which comprises filling the empty containers with molten fuel disposed in a tray on a pallet, allowing the fuel in these containers to cool and harden, repeating the setting, filling, and cooling and hardening steps for succeeding higher tiers of candles, placing an inverted tray as a cover over the top tier and strapping the tiers of candles and pallet together :to form a unit package for storage or shipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel method of packaging tiers of thermal candles.

Thermal candles were packaged in single layers. Such packaging required excessive floor space for fabrication, storage and shipment.

Also, because each package was a single layer, it reqnired its own top cover to protect it, its own pallet to support it and additional strapping, cushions and other materials necessary to a complete package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the practice of the present novel method wherein thermal candles are packaged, a corrugated paperboard tray is assembled and empty, open top containers are set therein. The tray filled with containers is placed on a pal let to form a first tier. Into each container, a corrugated, paperboard sleeve insert and a scoop of oiled perlite are placed. Each container is then substantially filled to within inch of its top with molten fuel. The filled containers are allowed to cool and harden before .a second tier of empty containers in trays is stacked on top of the first tier. The inserting and filling operations are repeated as successive tiers are added until limited by the weight of the tiers. A paperboard tray is placed inverted over the top tier and tiers of candles are strapped to the pallet to form a package unit. This package can now be fork-lifted to a storage area or on to a carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a breakawy of an isometric view of the first tier of containers in a bottom tray resting on a pallet prior to being filled with molten fuel; and

FIG. 2 is an isometric showing of a completed threetier package of thermal candles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is made to the figures of the drawing. In a method of packaging thermal candles, thirty empty containers in a configuration of five rows and six columns are placed in a first tray 12. The first tray is set on a pallet 14 forming a first tier. A wick insert 15 with spacing members or legs is substantially centered near the top of each container 10 and placed therein so that the insert legs rest on the container base. Alternately, spacing members can be disposed within the insert and retained in position by friction or other means. Next, a scoopful of oiled perlite is dropped into each container to serve as a wicking means for the candle. Heated fuel in a liquid 3,487,918 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 state such as wax, paraifin base gas oil, or combinations thereof, are then poured to substantially the top of each container.

The filled containers 10 are left to cool and harden until they can be used as columns for supporting additional weight. A second tray 16, having substantially the same dimensions as the first tray, is filled with empty containers in the same configuration as those in the first tier, and is set on top of the filled containers in the. first tier. The steps performed on the containers in the first tier are repeated for the containers in the second tier. A third tray 18 having the same dimensions as those in the two lower tiers is filled in a manner similar to the first and second tiers to form a third tier. The steps performed on the containers 10 in the lower tiers are repeated on the containers in the third tier. The number of tiers depends on weight and ambient temperature with regard to the melting point of the fuel. When the fuel in the containers in the top tier has hardened sufficiently, an inverted tray 20 is placed over the containers 10 in this tier. Bands of strapping 22 are passed around the tiers and pallet in two places with folded cardboard cushions 22a placed under the bands of strapping 22 at the top edges of the package.

An appropriate tensioning tool is used to tighten and secure the bands of strapping tautly about the package. Thus, the tiers are secured to a pallet in a most convenient package (about 40 by 50 by 36 inches and weighing above a half ton) readily accessible to the work of a forklift truck for carting to a storage area or onto a carrier.

A comparison of floor space required and cost of packaging and handling to storage is depicted in Table I below, to illustrate the advantages of palletized packaging over other packaging operations. For three tiers the novel method requires one-third of the floor space, and with a decrease in manpower requirement. The cost saving of packaging per candle provided for a seventy-five percent reduction, about 15 per candle.

TABLE I Floor Combined ilgled, fillfid and ac e in a etized Method B cartons package Floor space for fuel filling candles (sq.

ft. 42 14 Cost of packaging and handling to storage (basis 90 candles) per candle $0. 202 $0. 056 Time, labor for 90 candles (minutes) 81. 2 23. 5

Table II belowshows a comparison of the time spent in packaging 48,000 thermal candles. The thermal candles were arranged 30 to a tier in a configuration of 5 in a row and 6 in a column. There was sufficient working space for 134 pallets.

TABLE II Unit of time required to pour and package 48,000

Package candles arrangement (number of Number of Number of Total number of tiers) days pouring days packaging of days 1 12 12 24 2 l2 6 18 3 l2 4 1G 4 l2 3 15 An alternate embodiment (not shown, includes covers, similar to that shown in FIG. 2 on the top tier, for the lower tiers. This embodiment is particularly advantageous especially while the fuel in the lower tiers has not hardened completely, since it avoids spillage and slop over the sides of the containers.

It is obvious, of course, that other variations may be made in the hysical arrangement of the parts, without departing from the essential attributes of the invention. The more important feature resides in the arrangement of a package of thermal candles having more than one tier with the thermal candle containers acting as columns to support the weight of the package.

We claim:

1. A method of making a package unit of thermal candles comprising the steps of:

(a) placing onto a pallet an open tray filled systematically with open top containers which extend above the sidewalls of said tray;

(b) providing each of said containers with a wicking means;

(c) filling said containers with fuel in a molten stage to form a tier of thermal candles;

(d) allowing said fuel to cool and harden;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) above for each succeeding tray of open top containers, each tray being placed on the tops of said open top containers which act to support the load above them;

(f) placing an inverted tray over the topmost tier;

and

(g) securing said tiers and said pallet together to form a unit package.

2. A method of making a package as defined in claim 4 1, which includes inserting a wick insert into each container in said tray after step (b).

3. A pallctized load of thermal candles arranged in tiers and supported on a pallet, said tiers having said thermal candles systematically arranged in an upright open top tray having substantially the same areal dimensions as said pallet, said thermal candles being formed from containers extending above the walls of said tray and filled with hardened fuel, an inverted tray covering the top tray of said tiers, the height of said thermal candles exceeding twice the height of said walls of said tray, and fastening means extending around said pallet and tiers of trays to form a unitized package whereby said thermal candles are used as columns for supporting the additional weight of tiers above it and resting thereon.

4. A tired package as defined in claim 3, wherein each individual tier is covered with an inverted tray.

5. A tiered package as defined in claim 3, wherein said cover means also rest over the containers in each individual tier.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,698 8/1939 Bunt et al. 431-291 2,534,010 12/1951) Frye 229--23 3,124,247 3/1964 Churchill 206 3,289,828 12/1966 Dick et a1. 2066-5 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5326; 43 l291 

